Authorities in Zambia said Wednesday they are worried after three deaths were recorded, and a critical injury, in separate elephant attacks in as many days. They cited the deaths of two men and a woman. Most of the encounters occurred during the night. One elderly person is fighting for his life after an encounter. “All these and similar other incidents are regrettable and could have been otherwise avoided had they all adhered to wildlife protected area ethics and rules of avoiding walking at night and molesting elephants,” Dominic Chiinda, from the National Parks and Wildlife Department said in a statement in the national capital of Lusaka. He advised residents to exercise extra caution when traversing wildlife hotspots by giving the right of way to elephants when on their corridor and resisting surrounding or harassing elephants with incessant noise and throwing objects at them. “Reduce movements, particularly at night and being too close to elephants, avoid following elephants and taking close photos or selfies and remain calm when you see an elephant,” he added. Due to its vast savanna, the southern African nation has a rich elephant population, with at times migrations from neighboring countries, including Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Most cases of human-animal conflict have also been attributed to human encroachment on national parks and Game Management Areas (GMAs). The issue has also been debated on the floor of the parliament, with select members being granted honorary wildlife police officers to supplement the number of wildlife officers policing Zambia’s 20 national parks and 36 GMAs.

Haiti is mired in an unprecedented crisis as gang violence escalates, threatening state authority, a UN official said Wednesday. “Haiti is at a dire crossroads. Extreme levels of gang violence continue to erode state authority and pose an alarming threat to the people of Haiti and to international peace and security in the region, with no improvement in sight,” Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, said at a UN Security Council meeting. He said the current situation in Haiti “is not just another wave of insecurity; it is a dramatic escalation that shows no signs of abating.” Noting that the instability has reached new heights, Jenca said that gangs now control an estimated 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. He said armed groups have encircled the city, “attacking government buildings and infrastructure while using extreme violence, including sexual violence, as a weapon of subjugation.” Highlighting the severe humanitarian toll, he said that more than 20,000 people have fled their homes in just four days this month, adding to the nearly 700,000 displaced by violence earlier this year. Jenca also criticized the insufficient funding for the $674 million UN Humanitarian Response Plan, which is only 43% financed. He also noted the efforts of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission led by Kenya and said just 400 personnel have been deployed out of a planned 2,500. Without additional international support, Jenca warned that Haiti risks a “complete breakdown of state authority.” “Such an outcome would be inexcusable for the people of Haiti, who have endured far too much already,” he added, urging the global community to step up security assistance and crack down on the illicit flow of drugs, weapons and ammunition fueling the gang violence. – Haiti’s escalating crisis Haiti, with a population of over 11 million, faces severe challenges, including political instability, economic turmoil and a worsening security crisis. According to the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, armed gang violence has claimed 3,900 lives since the beginning of the year. The surge in violence has also led to significant political changes. Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned in April this year, prompting the establishment of a transitional council. Garry Conille was appointed prime minister on May 28 but was replaced on Nov. 11 by businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé following a council decision.

Mali’s Prime Minister Choguel Maïga was dismissed on Wednesday, November 20, following a decree read on national television by the Secretary-General of the Presidency, Alfouseyni Diawara. The decree, signed by transitional President Assimi Goïta, officially removed Maïga from his position. Maïga, appointed in 2021 after Mali’s second coup in a year, had publicly criticized the ruling junta on November 16, during ceremonies marking the recapture of Kidal. He expressed frustration over being sidelined from key decision-making, particularly regarding the timeline for Mali’s political transition. His comments sparked widespread protests in the capital, Bamako, and other cities, with demonstrators calling for his resignation. A faction of the Malian military, known as the Collective of Military Defense (CDM), accused Maïga of “treason” and “denunciation” following his criticism of the country’s military leaders.

Congo’s opposition leaders have called for nationwide protests against President Felix Tshisekedi’s plans to revise the country’s constitution.

Leaders exchange views on regional issues, focusing on countering terrorist threat and ensuring stability throughout Central African Republic

Dressed in traditional white West African attire, Al Hassan showed no emotion as the sentence was delivered

A convoy of Nigerian security forces was ambushed by Boko Haram insurgents in Niger state, leading to the disappearance of at least seven personnel.

16-member regional bloc also expected to find solutions to post-election violence in Mozambique

African elephants have mastered a unique form of communication that underscores their extraordinary intelligence

The accusations follow the M23’s recent appointment of administrators in areas it controls

Over the years, Besigye has faced numerous arrests, injuries from police confrontations, and accusations of inciting violence

More than a dozen soldiers were killed Tuesday in multiple attacks on a military base in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, said local and military sources. The terrorists attacked the base in the remote town of Kareto in the Mobbar Local Government Area with improvised explosives and shot at it from different directions, residents told Anadolu. Heavy shooting was heard from the base as troops engaged Boko Haram militants in a gun battle, residents said. They said the terrorists returned hours later to resume their attack with some civilians also hit by bullets. The attacks came days after a raid by Boko Haram that led to the deaths of some soldiers. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum conveyed his condolences to the military “I convey our heartfelt condolences to the armed forces and families of the deceased over the demise of our fellow compatriots. May Allah rest their souls and grant fortitude to the affected families,” the governor said in a statement issued by Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security Usman Tar. Zulum said the state government identified with the military over the loss. Nigeria has been experiencing 14 years of terrorist attacks which have led to the deaths of more than 100,000 people and the displacement of three million, according to the county’s National Emergency Management Agency.

Gangs launched a new assault on Haiti’s capital early Tuesday, targeting the upscale Pétionville area, where gunmen clashed with residents who joined forces with police to defend their community. The attack was led by the Viv Ansanm gang, headed by former elite police officer Jimmy Chérizier, known as Barbecue, who had posted a video announcing the assault. At least 28 gang members were killed, and hundreds of munitions were seized, according to Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police. It remains unclear whether police were prepared for the attack, given that Chérizier had publicly planned the assault. Local residents, angry over the ongoing violence, reported that some suspected gang members were decapitated or had their feet cut off, with bodies piled up and set on fire. Eyewitnesses said two trucks carrying gang members entered Pétionville, with one truck blocking the community’s main entrance. Chérizier had previously threatened retaliation against hotel staff and management in the area, accusing them of sheltering politicians and “oligarchs.” The attack follows a surge in gang violence that recently led to the closure of Haiti’s main international airport after gunmen opened fire on a plane preparing to land. This violence has displaced more than 20,000 people, with gangs now controlling 85% of Port-au-Prince. Attacks on previously peaceful neighborhoods are part of a broader effort to expand gang control. The escalation of violence coincides with the arrival of a Kenyan-led U.N. peacekeeping mission, and the U.S. is now advocating for a new peacekeeping force due to the Kenyan mission’s funding and personnel shortages.

A Sudanese village has been ravaged by the ongoing conflict, with at least 25 people dying from disease and malnutrition.

Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, claims that 50 people were killed by security forces during post-election protests.

Trade volume between Turkey, Africa at $37B, up 7-fold in span of 2 decades since 2003, says Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz

Botswana’s newly elected President Duma Boko has pledged to fight corruption and implement a 100-day transformation plan.

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has remained unrecognized internationally, hindering its access to international aid, finance, and travel for its citizens

Unlike many European nations with stricter immigration policies, Spain, under its leftist minority coalition government, has maintained a welcoming stance toward migrants

Sudan remains gripped by a 19-month conflict between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a crisis that has exacerbated hunger and disease

Zanzibar and Seychelles, offers this heartwarming spectacle every year

 Nigeria’s Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar stated that the end is near for terrorists and armed gang members in the country. Abubakar made the remarks during a ceremony at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Katsina state, marking the deployment of the T129 ATAK attack helicopters purchased from Turkey, which were delivered in September. In his speech, Abubakar expressed confidence that the activities of terrorists and armed gang members in Nigeria are nearing their end. He called on the military to collaborate with ground forces and other stakeholders to achieve victory against the country’s enemies. He also highlighted that the two additional T129 ATAK helicopters, received in September, would give Nigeria an advantage over other combat aircraft in preventing enemies from escaping justice. He mentioned that these helicopters are tasked with eliminating bandits and other criminal elements threatening peace, stability, and prosperity in the Northwest region. Abubakar praised the courage, dedication, commitment, and personal sacrifices of the soldiers involved in the ongoing efforts to secure Nigeria’s future, a fight he believes has already yielded positive results. Nigeria has recently been facing attacks from armed gangs, as well as terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP in various parts of the country. Nigeria had received four T129 ATAK helicopters from Turkey: two in February and two more in September.

Australian gold miner Resolute Mining has agreed to pay Mali’s military-led government $160 million to resolve a tax dispute following the detention of its British CEO, Terry Holohan, and two colleagues. The executives were arrested 10 days ago while traveling to the capital, Bamako, for what they expected to be routine discussions. Their detention occurred amid increasing scrutiny of foreign mining firms in Mali. Resolute announced on Sunday that it would make an initial payment of $80 million from its cash reserves, with the remaining $80 million to be paid in the coming months. Mali, one of Africa’s top gold producers, has been tightening control over foreign mining firms to secure a larger share of mining revenues. The charges of forgery and damaging public property against the Resolute executives are seen as part of the military government’s efforts to extract more from international companies. The release of the executives is reportedly contingent on the signing of a memorandum of understanding and the initial payment, though the timeline for their release remains unclear. Since seizing power in a 2021 coup, Mali’s military government, led by President Col Assimi Goïta, has sought to reshape the country’s trade and political relationships. A new mining code introduced last year raised the maximum stake for state and local investors in mining operations from 20% to 35%. This dispute highlights the growing tensions between Mali and foreign mining companies as the military government seeks to assert greater control over its valuable resources.

Democratic US Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Monday that he will support measures blocking certain offensive arms sales to Israel amid its ongoing wars on the besieged Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Van Hollen said he has chosen to support the joint resolutions of disapproval because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly violated US laws governing the provision of lethal aid “only to be rewarded by President (Joe) Biden.” The lawmaker from the US state of Maryland said the pattern of Israeli conduct over the course of the past year “undermines the credibility of the United States and should not persist.” “Recipients of security assistance must facilitate and not arbitrarily restrict the delivery of humanitarian assistance into war zones where US weapons are being used, and American-supplied weapons must be used in accordance with international humanitarian law. The Netanyahu government is violating both of these requirements in Gaza,” he said in a lengthy statement. “President Biden has failed to hold Netanyahu accountable – ignoring US law and undercutting his own stated policies as well as America’s interests and values. Doing so undermines American global leadership and is a disservice to the American people, the people of Israel, and people throughout the Middle East,” he added. Van Hollen circulated a letter to his Senate colleagues, asking them to join him in support of the joint resolutions. The Senate is slated to consider them Wednesday after they were announced last week by Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced last week that she would endorse the joint resolutions. “There is no longer any doubt that Netanyahu’s extremist government is in clear violation of US and international law as it wages a barbaric war against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Out of a population of 2.2 million, over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed and 102,000 injured – sixty percent of whom are women, children, or elderly people,” said Sanders. “The United States cannot continue to be complicit in this war by supplying more military aid and weaponry to the Netanyahu government. Congress must act to block these arms sales,” he added.